The head of Eton reckons the recession will force some private schools to close over the next two years (what a pity).

Private education in Britain will face “difficult times”, he says, as formerly rich toffs look to save money on school fees.

Unfortunately, that means pupils from less well-off families will suffer too, with good state schools becoming over-subscribed thanks to snotty-nosed families, who wouldn’t normally want their children to mix with yours and mine, being forced to eat humble pie.

The only way to end the apartheid that exists in education is to scrap private schools and raise standards for all.